Local criminal courts:

• Coles County Courthouse
  Address: 651 Jackson Avenue, Room 128, Charleston, IL 61920. Phone 217-348-0516. Hears: all criminal, traffic, juvenile (single courthouse).

Illinois abolished separate city and justice-of-the-peace courts in 1964, so city courts are gone. Under 65 ILCS 5/1-2.1-1, towns may hear ordinance tickets themselves.

Here, juvenile court hears youth cases under 705 ILCS 405. Detained local youth go to a juvenile detention center chosen by the court. For anyone under 18, hearings are private.

1. Open re:SearchIL and register for free.
2. Select Coles County and type the case number.
3. Older local cases may be on Judici.
4. Or ask the clerk: 217-348-0516.

1. Charge, lawyer and release are set within 48 hours. Details: Local bail and release.
2. Preliminary hearing or grand jury, within 30 days if held (725 ILCS 5/109-3.1).
3. Arraignment, where the defendant pleads.
4. Discovery, motions and possible plea deals in this county.
5. Trial: Illinois speedy-trial law sets 120 days for those held (725 ILCS 5/103-5).
6. Sentencing: probation, county jail time or state prison.

1. ICE can file an I-247A with the Coles County Jail.
2. The Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15) means the county ignores the hold request.
3. The Illinois Courthouse Civil Rights Act (705 ILCS 90) bars civil arrests of people attending court.
4. Detainees often leave Illinois; check the ICE Online Detainee Locator System.
5. Immigration consequences matter; tell the public defender or your lawyer before any plea.

For someone leaving the county jail for prison, classification comes first. Use the Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search and our Illinois state prisons guide.

The Fifth District Appellate Court, 14th and Main Street, Mount Vernon, IL 62864, hears local appeals. Appellate clerk: 618-242-3120.

1. Within 30 days, file a post-trial motion in Charleston (new trial, plea withdrawal, or sentence review).
2. Notice of appeal: within 30 days, to the county clerk (Rule 606).
3. Low income? The judge can appoint the Office of the State Appellate Defender.
4. Transcripts travel to Mount Vernon (618-242-3120), then briefs are filed.
5. The Illinois Supreme Court may take the case on petition.

Detention orders have a faster appeal under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 604(h). Constitutional claims can later be raised under 725 ILCS 5/122-1.

For a warrant check, phone the Sheriff's Office at 217-348-0585. An open case on re:SearchIL can show a warrant. The Public Defender or your lawyer can set a date (217-348-0516).

The circuit court hears both (217-348-0516). Felonies (a year or more) go to Fifth Judicial Circuit judges (217-348-0516). Associate judges take misdemeanors and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5). Federal crimes from Coles County go to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois.

The county falls within the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois: U.S. Courthouse, 600 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62701, 217-492-4020. For someone held by the U.S. Marshals, a magistrate sets detention (Springfield, 18 U.S.C. 3142). Until trial, the U.S. Marshals Service may hold a defendant in a county jail; check VINELink. For federal prisoners, see the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

• Find the person: Local inmate search.
• Visits: Local visiting guide.
• Money for local accounts: money guide.
• Calls and mail for the county jail: phone guide and mail guide.